On Monday night, the Chicago Bulls played in the Las Vegas Summer League title game and not only did it go to overtime, Denzel Valentine hit two shots at the buzzer, including the game-winning at the buzzer in OT to win the title.
In the words (or word) of the great Bill Raftery, “Onions!”
The Chicago Bulls won the Las Vegas Summer League title on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime, thanks to rookie Denzel Valentine.
Valentine hit not one, but two shots at the buzzer, including the game-winning jumper to clinch the first summer league title for the Bulls.
The first clutch bucket came in regulation with the Bulls trailing 77-74 after a ridiculous triple from Summer League MVP Tyus Jones.
Denzel Valentine with the answer!!! pic.twitter.com/oJ4KXdfoFM
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) July 19, 2016
Valentine’s three-ball forced a two-minute overtime between the two teams.
In the overtime, the game was tied once again at 82 after Spencer Dinwiddie missed two free throws and another absurd make from the Timberwolves from beyond the three-point line.
The game was put in Valentine’s hands for the SummerBulls’ final possession.
To borrow a classic Raftery line once again, “Onions! Double order!”
Denzel Valentine wins it in overtime. NBA Summer League it's fantastic!!!! pic.twitter.com/MMqaHDXgIe
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) July 19, 2016
Valentine only made three field goals in over 37 minutes of action, but two of them were the two biggest shots of the entire game.
Other than Valentine having as much ice in his veins as D’Angelo Russell, there were some good, some bad and some ugly from Monday’s win that ended a 7-0 run for the SummerBulls as Las Vegas Summer League title holders.
The good: Jerian Grant and Bobby Portis
In the final game of the summer, Jerian Grant picked a fantastic time to have his best game of the circuit. The title game MVP chipped in 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 10 rebounds and five assists.
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Bobby Portis was once again a problem for the opponent and attempted to take the game over at times, scoring a team-high 26 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Portis also made four (!) of his seven (!) attempts from three-point range and racked up four steals on the other end of the floor. If it was for Grant’s two big buckets to start overtime, he might have finished his impressive Vegas run as title game MVP.
The bad: The Bulls gave up a 22-0 run from the end of the first quarter through almost the halfway mark of the second quarter
The SummerBulls led after the first quarter, 18-13.
Then, the Timberwolves scored the 19 points against the second unit of the SummerBulls and jumped out to a double-digit advantage in the first half.
It’s just summer league and the Bulls ending up winning anyway, but that stretch was just … well, bad.
The ugly: Spencer Dinwiddie’s performance on Wednesday
Not only did Dinwiddie miss two key free throws in overtime to keep the Wolves in the game, he missed six of his nine shot attempts (not nice), all three of his attempts from long range and finished with a plus-minus of -22.
Until Monday, Dinwiddie looked like the best backup option behind Rajon Rondo for the entire summer circuit in Vegas. It’s fair to expect some good and some bad with the youthful Bulls off the bench this season, but Dinwiddie’s game was quite ugly on Monday.
Next: Bobby Portis named to Las Vegas Summer League's First Team
What’s next for the SummerBulls?
Nothing. They won the whole thing and remained unbeaten.
But, technically … Jimmy Butler is a SummerBull because he’s playing in Rio next month for Team USA, so keep your eyes out for that.